well I think its somewhere inbetween both extremes brought to mention here; though in most cases I’d say its more towards the shave than the not:
let me explain. As one that taken steps to check sponsors for honesty; though not to the point I’d like of course, but enough that eventually one of two things will happen;
I’ll either catch them thru my testers;
or else they’ll prove to be so unprofitable with the players that they do get; if any; that the question of their honesty becomes a mute point; they are obviously incompetent at converting/retaining; so what’s the point of proving whether or not they’re honest?
this was always a point a friend in the biz always hounded; and I always was astounded at his adamant search for the truth. Who cares?!!! whether honest and incompetent; or dishonest; you’re bottom line is all you need to look at.
Now the real question then falls to those programs consistently on the bubble. I bet I could name a number of them that seasoned vets would all say the same thing; ya; they seem to be underperforming in comparison.
walks like a duck…..
those are the programs that I think we need to start shedding some light on. these places that seemingly consistently have for one excuse or another; whether it be winners; fraud; or whatever the reason; and I suggest to everyone to take into consideration the combination of the usual excuses also is very suspect; say a winner one month; fraud the next, next month you earned a little but had some more little winners ….
whatever, the end result is that over a period of say 6 months; you ended up having about two decent months; two with no income; and maybe two that saw minimum payouts; and you know you are doing much better with another program offering similar software casinos….
its time to question with serious interest.
I’ve given this scenario before; and challenge everyone again. if you’re not a gambler; then get a couple true players ; no matter what their stakes; and get them to be honest with you how much they play per week, and I think you will find it very interesting to hear that they play often. that your stats should change often, not every third or fourth day as some would have you beleive.
that almost nobody goes in and loses $50, $100; and then says “I’m done for the next three weeks, I’ll play a little at hte end of the month.”.
Gambling for most people is entertainment. not a means to make money. if it was to make money they’d go in and bet it all on a couple rolls with lady luck and walk out either with the money; or not. most people gamble as an escape so that’s why its so hard to beleive some of the stats I see that don’t change over literally days and days.
now the one exception to the above is the person that plays once and doesn’t like the place, therefore its understandable they’d leave and not come back. but seeing stats on returning players update so rarely is upsetting because it obviously leaves much room for corruption.
One last thought. I have busted many, many programs that didn’t report the player at all. that was back in the day when they didn’t respect us at all and blatantly screwed us. Now things are much more sophisticated. you can “have winners” which I personally think is the favorite weapon of the cheaters today; as well a number of other less obvious; or perhaps better stated; less easy to catch ways of screwing the affiliate. The selective shaving tactic is I think alive and well; as well as many other ways.
ways I have personally caught cheating/incompetent tracking
player sign up didn’t show
player deposit didn’t show
player’s deposit only showed 50% – this one i viewed as an obvious cheat; I deposited twice; why did one show the other not?
though not from cheating, i know for personal fact that it IS possible and have seen it done: to track a player from someone’s account over to another; don’t bother asking me how you’ll just have to take my word for it. It was done to right a wrong, but I’m just saying its very possible to do.
and then on top of everything else is a huge problem in OG that I’m getting ready to address in full battle armour come the 2nd week of next month ; regardless of how this situation I’m currently involved with; comes out. at this point its just a matter of whether i decide to name the offending party, but rest assured it is an industry wide plague which is a freaking disgrace to the hard work we as affiliates go thru to accumulate real depositing players.
this story involves a loyal patron of over 5 years; 5 FREAKING YEARS! who the place in question has chosen to run off rather than use a little common sense and put forth an effort to overcome the deal-breaking obstacles they have created.
but loss of income due to shoddy CS is of course another story; but one that I feel also needs some further attention given by the powers that be. I’ve already got it written just waiting to see whether the place in question wants to take it to the point of my naming them.